5th October 2015

They say IT’S JUST A GAME OF RUGBY! Oh no, it’s not. It’s a sad reflection on the state of English rugby. The squashing of individualism by overbearing coaches, relentlessly hammering home the mantra of “being a team player,” has stifled the creativity these players once showed in abundance during their formative years. It was that very flair that caught the eye and propelled them to the top of their profession. But, as in society, if you don’t fit into the system, you don’t play. You conform. English rugby has become no different from the prescriptive path we all must follow if we want to lead so-called “successful” lives.

I recall the 1980s and ’90s when Rugby League controversially poached the best Welsh players to inject excitement into a game many saw as stagnating, fast but predictable. What do we have now? Over the last decade, the trend has reversed, with tough, hard-running League players lured into the faster, more flowing Union game. And what’s been the outcome? These players, revered for their League skills, big hits and offloads in the tackle, have transitioned successfully, but the real damage lies elsewhere. Union hasn’t suffered from the inclusion of these stars, but rather from the suffocating over-control and micromanagement by coaches, which has eradicated individualism for the sake of rigid team tactics.

Yes, you need structure. Yes, you must train and enter the game with a clear plan to overcome the opposition. But why, when England were comfortably beating Wales and controlling the game for 60 minutes, did we see a raft of substitutions? Players who were neither injured nor underperforming, but who formed our strongest combination, were swapped out. Suddenly, the team lost its cohesion. Wales also made changes, but theirs were forced by injuries and fatigue.

Take the final moments of that game as an example. With time running out, England kicked for the corner after winning a penalty. What would Ben Youngs have done for Leicester? What would the All Blacks have done? What would I have done? We’d have tapped quickly, knowing the back-row would be ready. Why risk a line-out, handing the opposition a chance to compete? Unless, of course, that’s what the coaches have drilled into you, regardless of whether it makes sense in the heat of the moment.

The squad is good enough to reach the semi-finals, based on their individual club performances. But the England coaching set-up and the RFU’s organisation leave much to be desired. Why can’t we pick our best players if they happen to play just 19 nautical miles away in France? Why was Sam Burgess, a League player, shoehorned into the centre at the expense of a seasoned Union specialist? Why is Farrell a coach? Why was Ford not starting at fly-half? These last two questions seem oddly connected. No doubt, the media will dissect these issues in the coming weeks, but what England really needs is a thorough shake-up.

I always suspected we’d crash out in the quarter-finals. That’s my English half speaking. Thankfully, my other half is Welsh.

With that rant off my chest, I can now relax and focus on writing this blog.

We wrapped up August with a visit from Sarah and Mia. After a short walk with the dog, they left to spend the afternoon with Charlotte. A couple of days later, it was Charlotte’s birthday. She and Sue went to Kilworth House to watch ‘Legally Blonde’. Despite the venue being fully booked, Sue managed to grab front-row seats by persistently checking the website. The weather was dreadful, I know, because I spent the afternoon at the allotment. Much better to have been at the theatre! As Charlotte said, “A lovely way to finish off a birthday.”

The next day was Suraj and Charlotte’s wedding anniversary. Sue and I marked the occasion with a trip to the Odeon in Kettering to see ‘Suite Française’. Despite my initial reservations, it turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable film.

Back home, we had new carpets fitted in the lounge and dining room. The old ones were looking tatty and threadbare, so we finally bit the bullet and endured the agonising process of choosing replacements. Once they were in place, I visited a local joinery for some custom oak carpet edgings. On the eve of the fitting, I pulled up the old carpets and stored them in the garage for Charlotte to use in her chicken run and allotment. I should’ve worn a face mask; it was a dusty job. Sure enough, a few hours later, I was shivering in bed with paracetamol and a hot water bottle, feeling like death.

The next morning, I dragged myself up when the fitters arrived. They did a great job, but the thicker carpet meant the doors had to be trimmed. That wasn’t happening any time soon, so I went back to bed for two days. Once I’d recovered, I tackled the doors, with Sue’s help, as they were heavy.

Later, Charlotte and I spent an afternoon laying the old carpets in her chicken run. The hens were delighted, and the rest of the carpets were used to cover dug sections of her allotment. A few days later, Charlotte came down with the same chills and aches. So, it was the carpets after all!

The following weekend, the Rothwells visited. We treated the boys to £5 each for the fair rides in Welland Park. On Sunday, the whole family (minus Jamie, who was at a car rally) enjoyed the Lubenham scarecrow festival. The day was hot and sunny, despite forecasts of rain. Afterwards, we had tea in the garden.

The Rugby World Cup kicked off that week. My ex-rugby mates decided England’s opener against Fiji should be watched on the big screen here at Willow Bank, accompanied by fish and chips. Oh, what fun we had, little knowing the disappointment ahead. The following week it was chilli and baked potatoes, and the week after, hot dogs with eye-watering onions (though it wasn’t just the onions bringing tears). Enough said.

I also managed a few away trips: first to see Leicester Tigers take on Newcastle Falcons with Andy Spencer, and then to Cardiff with Paul Bissell for Wales v Uruguay. Paul had secured last-minute tickets, so we made a day of it: a Wetherspoons breakfast, a buzzing city, Welsh ale and some excellent rugby. Wales triumphed, of course.

It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, with rugby highs and lows, new carpets, and allotment antics; life has been anything but dull.

On the 28th, Sue and I drove to Llandudno for a three-day break. On the way, we stopped in Caergwrle to visit the castle, Nan’s bench and enjoy a picnic. It was heartening to see that the honeysuckle we had planted for Nan was not only still alive but in bloom. We also noticed that someone appeared to be conducting historical investigations on the site, which was fascinating.

Before setting off that morning, we had tried ringing Noel and Gay, who live in Mold, to see if they were available for a brief visit en route to the coast. They hadn’t answered, so I rang again upon arriving in Caergwrle and once more during our picnic at the castle, still no response. We assumed they were either out shopping or possibly in France, where they often travel.

Imagine our surprise, then, when we bumped into them at the bottom of the castle on their way up! They were heading there to pick blackberries. How strange! We had a lovely chat by Nan’s bench, where we also got to meet their new pet Beagle. After catching up on family news, we left them to their fruit-picking and continued our journey to Llandudno.

We arrived at our seafront hotel in the middle of the afternoon, checked into a lovely room, and set off to explore. Sue had done some research on the local entertainment options, and we soon came across the rather impressive Llandudno Venue. At the ticket office, we were delighted to secure two tickets for that evening’s performance by the Beijing Dance Academy. They were on a world tour with only three UK dates: Llandudno, London, and Edinburgh. Having previously seen them perform in Beijing, we knew we were in for a treat.

After a leisurely stroll along the promenade and pier, we returned to the hotel to freshen up, then headed out to a nice restaurant for the classic seaside fare of fish and chips. From there, we made our way to the theatre. It was packed, and we realised how lucky we were to have got tickets.

The performance was spellbinding, with all the dances inspired by traditional Chinese folk tales and village life. The execution was flawless, graceful, powerful, and utterly mesmerising. While some of the narrative elements were inevitably lost in translation between cultures, the combination of evocative music and dynamic choreography transcended language.

It was a real treat for such a small seaside town. We later discovered that Bangor University has strong links with the Academy, which prompted them to launch their UK tour at this relatively obscure venue. That said, the theatre itself was a gem, worthy of any major city, and the Welsh audience clearly appreciated every moment of the performance.

After breakfast, we set off to climb the Great Orme. While we could have reached the summit by tram, vintage bus, or even cable car, we were determined to walk the many paths to the top. The initial stretch was steep, but the stunning views and the beautiful gardens we passed made it well worth the effort. It was a gloriously warm, cloudless day, perfect for exploring.

Our route took us up past the ski slope and then along to the charming little church of Saint Tudno. It’s a lovely spot and, incidentally, where I settled on the name for this blog. One thing you can’t help but notice in Llandudno is the abundance of benches and seats everywhere you go. Perhaps the town’s somewhat older population has something to do with this thoughtful proliferation.

We continued our climb, eventually reaching the Top Station, where we took a well-earned break. Over coffee in the Randolph Turpin Bar (named after the famous boxer), we mingled with fellow visitors who had arrived via tram and cable car. After a quick browse in the obligatory tourist shop, we explored the information centre before starting our descent.

Our route down took us through a fascinating limestone quarry, where we paused to search briefly for fossils. Not far below the summit, we stumbled upon the prehistoric copper mine. Having visited many caves and mines before, we were curious but didn’t expect to be quite so captivated. Noel had urged us to see it when we spoke back in Caergwrle, and he wasn’t wrong.

Even if you only have a faint interest in history, this site will leave you in awe. Dating back over 35,000 years, it’s an astonishing piece of human history, with only a fraction of the mine uncovered so far. The information trail is the most comprehensive I’ve ever encountered, offering a vivid sense of what life must have been like for those ancient miners. If you ever visit the Great Orme, the copper mine is an absolute must-see.

We continued our descent back to sea level, stopping at the King’s Head near the tram station at the top of town. There, we enjoyed a much-needed drink while being treated to some impromptu music by a pair of local performers.

Strolling along the promenade, we paused to watch the filming of an episode of ‘Indestructibles’, a new show set to air in the spring. The scene was as bizarre as it was entertaining: a Reliant Robin had been mounted on two large surfboards and was being towed out to sea at high speed by a jet ski, with several passengers clinging on for dear life. They seemed to be having a blast, but I was even more fascinated by the camera drone buzzing around the action, capturing what I imagine will be some spectacular footage. (Mental note: must look into getting one of those!)

As the day remained glorious and the sun still high above the horizon, I suggested we tackle the Little Orme. To my surprise, Sue agreed. After returning to the hotel, we hopped in the car and drove there, finding a convenient parking spot at the Premier Inn across the road. The climb was steep but noticeably less challenging than its grander sister, and the views were once again spectacular.

The Little Orme boasts two peaks, and we began with the one crowned by a cairn near the sea cliffs. From there, we traversed across to the higher peak, marked by a trig point, where we paused to enjoy the stunning scenery and count the wind turbines scattered across the sea. The descent was peaceful, with only one couple passing by, the only other people we saw on this quieter climb. We rounded off the adventure with a pleasant meal at the Premier Inn’s attached restaurant, which offered great food at a reasonable price.

That evening, we relaxed in the hotel lounge, playing dominoes while a circuit entertainer serenaded the small audience with easy-listening classics. Not exactly our preferred genre, but his voice was pleasant, and the few other guests knew every song by heart. It made for a low-key but enjoyable evening. I started the dominoes game a bit sluggishly but rallied towards the end, finishing with what I believe was a narrow victory over Sue on points (had to be mentioned!)

The next morning greeted us with brilliant sunshine, so after breakfast, we laced up our walking boots and headed to the west shore. Standing by the boating lake, we gazed across to Conwy and the distant bay and river mouth, trying to guess the names of the mountains and villages scattered across the landscape. A small school group was playing games on the beach, and we couldn’t resist reminiscing about past school trips we’d organised. Sad, perhaps, but those were the good old days.

Spotting a small cave on the side of the Orme, we followed a winding path that led nearby. Reaching a vantage point below the cave, we found yet another perfectly placed bench and, as usual, read the dedication plaque. The final scramble to the cave required a bit of “off-path” manoeuvring, which Sue sensibly opted to skip. After gathering my scampering resolve, I explored the cave solo. It was empty save for a few discarded beer cans and an impressive collection of Orme goat droppings.

When I returned, I suggested we tackle the Marine Drive trail. Sue again agreed, so we found ourselves not only walking the Orme but embarking on a scenic journey around it on the Marine Drive.

A while later, as we rested, we struck up a conversation with a couple from our hotel who’d been visiting Llandudno since, as they put it, copper was first mined. They generously shared a long list of “must-visit” spots before continuing on their way.

The first stretch of the Marine Drive trail was off-road, winding through rugged terrain with fantastic views, an exhilarating start. After a mile or so, we descended to the main roadway, joining a stream of like-minded walkers. From this vantage point, we admired the impressive properties lining a secluded private road below. These grand homes, no doubt worth a small fortune, were fascinating to see, particularly knowing that two of them were owned by Jim Davidson and Cliff Richard.

As we continued, the route revealed its historical richness. Numerous sites along the way were marked by information boards, each detailing a notable event from the past. Some offered brief summaries, while others featured QR codes that unlocked deeper stories through a smartphone app.

One particularly intriguing spot was tied to a dramatic episode from the First World War. Here, a group of escaped German prisoners had covertly gathered on five consecutive nights, hoping to rendezvous with a U-boat sent to rescue them. Unfortunately for them, they missed their pick-up each time and were eventually recaptured. The blend of history and stunning scenery made this walk both educational and captivating.

We paused for a well-earned coffee break at the halfway café, taking the opportunity to read a newspaper provided for the purpose, while enjoying the stunning coastal views. Suitably refreshed, we resumed our walk, making a brief stop at a set of ancient standing stones, silent sentinels of a bygone age. Nearby, we explored some beautifully maintained communal gardens, a peaceful oasis that added a touch of charm to the latter part of our journey.

With our walk complete, we returned to the car and headed to Rhos-on-Sea, a quaint seaside town with its unique attractions. Our first stop was the smallest church in the UK, a delightful little structure with space for just six worshippers. Its quaintness and history made it one of the highlights of the day.

From there, we wandered down to the harbour, taking in the peaceful scene of bobbing boats and locals enjoying the fine weather. We did the classic tourist thing, settling on a few of the many benches to soak up the tranquil atmosphere and reflect on the day’s adventures. After a while, we made our way back to the car and set off on the long journey home, content with our eventful and rewarding trip.

My Fiesta passed its MOT on Tuesday, so I treated it to a tank of 95 octane in celebration. The rest of the week was spent preparing for the redecoration of the dining room. We stripped the wallpaper, filled in all the holes and then painted the walls and woodwork. We bought new curtains as well as wall and ceiling lights, which we then fitted. We feel the room now has a much more modern and brighter feel. Finally, we hung our artwork on the walls. We’re very pleased with the results.

Sarah and Mia came down for the day during the preparations, and later Charlotte joined us. They spent some time shopping in Harborough, mostly at Joules, before collecting the boys from school and then having tea with Sue and me. I can never quite understand the appeal of that shop. It’s always busy when I pass by, and I constantly seem to end up walking behind people with Joules tags prominently displayed. I think I’ll stick to the Heart Foundation and Cancer Research shops, which offer such a great selection of reasonably priced, quality clothing.

Jamie has just returned from a week in Spain with three of his mates. Despite a couple of rainy days, he came back with a deep tan and some unsettling news. He told me that the two women reported on the TV news who tragically drowned during a night swim this week had been staying at his hotel. They had been drunk, ignored the barman’s advice, and gone for a swim in a storm at 4 a.m. It’s not surprising given the circumstances, but such a shame, especially since they had children. It’s unfortunate that sometimes, intelligence and common sense don’t seem to be prerequisites for having kids.

While Jamie was away, we took care of his gerbil and corn snake, and I repaired the hole in his bedroom wall caused by the door handle. The hole was made while packing, and that was when Jamie discovered that ‘his friend’ had also stolen his GoPro and collection of baseball hats. Sue has spotted ‘his friend’ a couple of times in town over the past few weeks, but I haven’t yet crossed paths with him.

Yesterday, the Rothwells came for tea. Fridays are becoming tricky now that Ellis has started soccer and changed his training session to a later time, which makes it quite late to travel here and have dinner. Jamie went out for a meal with Harley. Before leaving for Spain, he mentioned that Harley had talked about getting engaged, oooooh! Not sure how to take that, but we’ll see how it unfolds.

I mentioned in a previous blog that Charlotte and Suraj had changed their cars. As luck would have it, Suraj bought a Volkswagen Golf just a week before the news broke about the company defrauding its customers with false specifications. Ah, what can you do? Well, I for one won’t be following Suraj and breathing in all that toxic diesel until the software update is made. However, last night, Suraj and I went to see the new film ‘The Martian’. Of course, I drove us both over to Kettering in my pollution-free Fiesta!

Snippets: Mia had her own little snippet; she had a visit to the vet to prevent any future little embarrassments. Since she needed to be watched until she healed, we looked after her for a couple of days while Sarah and Lee were at work. The first day, she was very quiet and reluctant to move, spending most of the time sleeping. On the second day, she was a bit more energetic, but kept going upstairs and couldn’t get back down. I lost count of how many times I had to carry her down. Thankfully, she’s much better now and seems to be back to her usual lively self.

Ellis is learning to ride his bike without stabilisers. We tried teaching him by pushing him down the slope in the park, watching as he careered mostly out of control until he fell over. It will take a few more sessions.

Sue’s sister Philippa took a tumble in the garden, broke her finger, and made quite a mess of her face, requiring it to be glued back together.

Lee and Sarah have discovered their culinary skills and are constantly posting photos of pies they’ve made on Facebook. They look very tasty, but without the opportunity to try them, they could just be cardboard cut-outs!

Charlotte has taken in five more hens from another allotment holder who has decided to stop living the good life. Hopefully, they will turn out to be good layers.

My red grapes were ready, so I spent a pleasant afternoon picking them, followed by two mornings removing them from the stalks. They are now crushed and fermenting in two barrels.

The other day, we had yet another hot air balloon crash land in the field at the back of the house.